Tribe seeks to remove father from settlement based on race
By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICANArticle Photos
MESKWAKI SETTLEMENT - A local resident on the Meskwaki settlement is claiming foul after the tribe has threatened to kick him out of his wife's home.
At issue is apparently the man's heritage, which is not Meskwaki.
"My wife and I refuse to let this happen," said James Ironshell, a native of the Sioux tribe. "It's wrong. It's basically and ethically wrong."
According to his attorney, Darrell Meyer, the Meskwaki are using a provision in tribal code which prohibits any non-Meskwaki male from inhabiting the same home with a Meskwaki female, even though the two are legally married. The family's home is on the settlement and was built by the tribe for tribal members.
Ironshell said he has a number of problems with the enforcement of the provision at this time.
First, he argues that he is not the only non-Meskwaki male living in a home on the settlement with a Meskwaki female - married or otherwise.
Further, he has lived in the home for approximately a decade. While there have been situations and disagreements about the living arrangement in the past, it has generally been allowed to stand as it currently is, Ironshell said.
He also noted the Meskwaki have no such provisions against a Meskwaki male living with a non-Meskwaki female
Philosophically, Ironshell feels the policy is not only racist, but sexist as well.
"I don't know what the mindset is here where they feel they can control the lives of the women on the settlement - that women are considered lesser than men," he said. "It's complete gender discrimination."
At the present time, Meyer has filed a request for an injunction in district court in Tama County trying to stop the enforcement of the decision that would remove Ironshell from his home.
He said he was also in the process of filing similar motions with the tribal court.
Meyer said the case comes down to a matter of civil rights, where no one can be discriminated against based on race, creed or gender. That, he said, applies to all Americans, whether or not they are American Indians.
"Why would native Americans be treated as second-class citizens?" Meyer asked. "Why wouldn't our constitution protect them like it does any other citizen?"
If Ironshell were forced off the settlement, he would be separated from his wife and three daughters, ages 12, 9, and 7.
Ironshell is still hoping the matter resolves itself. However, if Meyer does not seek the relief he is seeking in either the tribal court or state district court system, he said he will also file petitions in federal court.
Meskwaki Executive Director Larry Lasley did not return a phone call seeking comment on the situation Tuesday.
---
Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
|
CA92657
|
|
|---|---|
|
12-08-08 11:34 PM
|
This is simple, the Meskwaki are a patrilineal tribe that determines membership and benefits from the father's side. This situation is no different from a matrilineal tribe - those tribes that enroll on the mother's side. The concept revolves around soveriegnty - a concept that is foriegn to most people - including Central Iowans because they never encounter it. This boils down to a squatter taking advantage of a female tribal member who received her benefit - a new house - for her and her kids. Now we have a non-enrolled person arguing for his supposed rights to the media and those tribal members who bought into his argument. This man was a squatter for 10 years in a community where he is not enrolled. There is no discrimination from what I can see here. Mr. Ironshell has been notified of his options. His wife can choose where she can decide to go. Some of us followed this choice years ago. From a member on the West Coast.
|
|
TheyCallMeSavage
|
|
|
11-14-08 2:37 AM
|
Sounds like the Taliban,,,MAYBE the Meskwaki should IMPOSE THE LAWS OF SHARIAH,,,and break out the BURKAS.
|
|
meswakin8vgrl
|
|
|
11-13-08 4:18 PM
|
This isn't where he is from. They have kids they're married! On the tribe he lives peacefully which is more than most of the outsiders are doing. WOMEN'S RIGHTS!!! this is where this issue is MESKWAKI WOMEN HAVE NO RIGHTS!! why is it men get housing when women are denied! we have meskwaki women an children who are homeless! the children of meskwaki men are enrolled even when very little of their blood is meskwaki! HIS WIFE, IS RIGHT WHITE WOMEN HAVE MORE RIGHTS THEN A MESKWAKI WOMAN..OR ARE THEY GOING TO BAN THEM TOO? ALL NATIVE AMERICANS RECEIVES ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT housing is one of them if that means free rent then I guess the slaughtering of Native American people earned us that right! more important what is the basis of his exclusion! OUR MESKWAKI CONSTITUTION HAS GUIDELINES FOR EXCLUSION - james ironshell has NOT met the guidelines! BUT ALL TRIBAL COURTS MUST PROVIDE DUE PROCESS.. EVEN OUR “RESPECTIVE” TRIBAL COUNCIL CAN'T ARGUE THAT!!!
|
|
MTownResident
|
|
|
11-13-08 8:56 AM
|
Uh, they're married?
|
|
MTownResident
|
|
|
11-13-08 8:56 AM
|
Uh, their married?
|
|
laieboy
|
|
|
11-12-08 1:55 PM
|
When someone not of your house moves in...what would YOU do?? Then when asked to leave he gives all this belliherent rant about how wrong/mean his hosts are??? And..running to the press??? wow..ten years of RENT FREE habitation and this is his thanx??..nice..
|
|
MTownResident
|
|
|
11-12-08 8:22 AM
|
I thought white males were the only possible racists. Man, my public education was wrong again.
|